Johannes Phokela

Place: Soweto

Born: 1966

Biography:

Johannes Phokela is a South African painter and sculptor. He was born in Soweto, South Africa in 1966 and trained under Durant Sihlali. Phokela began his studies at the Federated Union of Black Artists, Johannesburg before concluding his studies at the Royal College of Art, London. Phokela has lived and worked in both London and Johannesburg. His artistic practice is primarily composed of oil on canvas painting in the style of older Dutch Golden Age painting, often Phokela's paintings will include white grids as well. Phokela had stated 'Once you have the work it doesn’t really matter who produced it what counts is the quality. But unfortunately, the contemporary international art scene has this tendency to dwell on the background of the artist'.